World Trade Center spire lifted onto top of new 1,776ft skyscraper at site of 9/11 terror attacks

One World Trade Center now stands at 1,776ft - a reference to the year of America's independence - replacing the twin towers

A spire was yesterday lifted into place on a tower at New York's new World Trade Center, the highest building in the western hemisphere.

One World Trade Center now stands at 1,776ft - a reference to the year of America's independence.

It is part of a complex replacing the towers destroyed by al-Qaeda's terror attacks in 2001 in which 2,753 people died.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said: "This symbolises the resurgence and resilience of our state and nation."

The skyscraper, expected to open next year, is the focal point among the buildings designed to replace the twin towers.

When master plans were unveiled in December 2002, architect Daniel Libeskind envisaged the tower "restoring the spiritual peak of the city, creating an icon that speaks to our vitality in the face of danger and our optimism in the aftermath of tragedy".

"It will be a beacon of hope, just like the Statue of Liberty," said Scott Rechler, vice chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the lower Manhattan trade centre site.

Tenants are to include magazine publisher Conde Nast, the government's General Services Administration and Vantone Holdings China Centre, which will provide business space for international companies.

Lee Ielpi, whose firefighter son died after responding to the September 11 attacks, watched workers secure the spire from his office at the nearby 9/11 Tribute Centre, which he co-founded.

"I'm looking forward to the day when the cranes come down and they light the spire at night," he said.